Program Management for Improved Business Results

Appendix B. ConSoul Software

Andrea Hayes-Martinelli and Dragan Z. Milosevic

"Wait a minute" said Bali Balebi, the Silverbow program manager, while passionately waving his hands. "Do I understand you correctly that senior management is saying that my program must hit the release date, and if that requires dropping the two automation features, it is okay?"

"Yes," responded Christine Smiley, the PMO director, "you understood me. But please calm down, we need cool heads now."

Balebi continued, "So, first we add the automation features despite the program team telling us that the planned program duration of 21 months would only allow for the 8 original features. Now, we are in the integrate phase three months before we get to deployment, and I'm being asked to drop the automation features because we're a month behind schedule? I'm sorry if I'm having a tough time keeping a cool head, but we can't do that."

"They are not asking you, they are directing you to remove the features in order to get back on schedule; the delivery date is crucial," replied Smiley. "Again, please calm down and tell me why we can't drop the automation features. Give me a logical argument that I can take back to senior management. I can't just go back to them and say we can't remove the features because the program manager is passionately against it."

"Okay," said Balebi. "Two reasons, first I have already made an announcement to our lead customers that the automation features will be included in the next release. ...